Machine for making wire straps



EN inw am 1 April 6, 1948. J. sHoLTls, JR., ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS Filed March s, 1945 s sheets-sheet 1 H NNN at.. .5 NNN m APrll 6 1948 J. sHoLTls, JR., Erm.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS Filed March 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN1/'VEN TORS April 6, 1948.

J. SHOLTIS, JR, ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS 5 Sheets-Sheet i5 Filed March 8, 1945 w S ism WR uw \L K ,n 1Q www@ @w uw n.' En Q V EN .www

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Patented Apr. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE STRAPS John Sholtis, Jr., Farrell, Pa., and Harold K. Embree, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, asslgnors to Griplock, Inc., Hoboken. N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application March 8, 1945, Serial No. 581,688

22 Claims. (Cl. 14o-71) 1 2 This invention relates to a machine for making element in the machine, which latter is so formed wire straps useful in the securing of packages, or constructed as efficiently to cooperate with bales, stacks or groups of articles. and the like, any one of said removable and replaceable elei'or shipment. The straps produced by the maments regardless of variations in form or conchine are similar to those shown in U. S. patent struction of the latter. to W. N. Lurcott. No. 1,474,372, dated November Another object is to provide a machine of this 20, 1923; and the machine itself is of the type, character which embodies an improved mounting and resembles in general construction and operfor the steady rest that supports the wire while ation, that shown in U. S. patent to W. N. Lurcott the strap coils are being formed. N0. 1,427,962, dated September 5, 1922. The wire l Another object is to provide a machine of this for forming the said straps is supplied to the macharacter that embodies positively actuated chine from a spool, drum, or other suitable source, means for moving the steady rest to inoperative while the machine forms the straps therefrom, position. and severs and delivers the same as finished Another object is to provide a machine of this units. l5 character which embodies improved and adjust- An object of the invention is to provide a numable means for feeding the steady i'eSt during the ber of innovations and improvements in a rnaoperation of forming the coils of the strap and chine of this character which, severally and/5r in returning the same to starting position prelimicombination, serve to enhance the versatility, nary to another coil forming operation. eflciency, precision, and speed with which the Another object is to provide a machine of this operation takes place and the straps are formed character which embodies improved and adjustand delivered. able means for mounting and actuating the cut- Another object is to provide a machine of this ting head and blades which sever from the concharacter which embodies means for varying the tinuous wire supply each strap as it is nished. spacing of the coils formed at one end of the Another object is to provide a machine of this strap. character which embodies improved means for Another object is to provide a machine of this mounting and adjusting the twister hook that character which embodies means for varying the forms the coils ofthe strap. angularity of the coils formed at one end of the Another object is to provide a machine of this strap with respect to the portion of the strap character Which embodies improved and adl'uStwhich the coils surround. able means for supporting the Wire and its co- Another object is to provide a machine of this operative mandrel during the feeding of the wire character which embodies means for accurately and the forming 0f the Strap coils therefrom. controlling the loop formed by the bending of Another object is to provide a machine of this the wire at the initiation of the ceiling operation. :is character which embodies improved means i01- Anotner object is to provide a machine of this periodic rapid feeding of the wire as each strap character which embodies means for feeding the iS formedwire during the step of forming the coils at one A further object is to provide certain improveend thereof, which means may be varied so as ments in the form, construction, arrangement, correspondingly to vary the spacing of the said 4o and operation of the several parts of a machine coils and/or their angularity with respect to the 0f this character, whereby the above named and portion of the strap around which they are coiled. Other Objects may be effectively attained.

Another object is to provide a machine of this A Practical embodiment 0f the HVEDOD iS character in which the means for varying the represented in the accompanying drawings, in spacing and/or angularity of the said coils inwhich cludes a set of elements that are removable and may be substituted for each other.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character in which the last named elements may be removed and replaced without dislocating, moving or affecting in any respect any other part of the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character in which the removable and replaceable elements just named cooperate with a fixed Fig. 1 represents a top plan View of the ma- Chine;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

56 Fig. 5 represents a detail longitudinal hori- Fig. 3 represents a rear end view of the parts zontal section, showing part of the means for supporting and feeding the wire and its cooperative mandrel, together with the mounting and drive of the twister hook for forming the strap coils;

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged. detail longitudinal section of the means for mounting the mandrel;

Fig. 'I represents a section taken in the plane of the line VII-VII of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal vertical detail section, partly in elevation. taken in the plane of the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 represents a detail end elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 represents a transverse section taken in the plane o! the line X-X of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 represents a detail elevation, partly in section, of the wire severing means;

Fig. 12 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line XII- XII of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 13 represents a detail plan view showing the operative relationship of the mandrel, steady rest, and twister hook which cooperate in forming the strap coils;

Fig. i4 represents a detail elevation showing the mandrel `and twister hook:

Fig. 15 represents a detail horizontal section. partly in elevation. taken in the plane of the line XV-XV of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the a/rrows, showing the mounting'and part of the adjustable feed for the steady rest;

Fig. 16 represents a plan viewI partly in section, taken in the plane of the line XVI-XVI of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the cam, and mounting therefor, which moves the steady rest into operative position;

Fig. 17 represents a detail section, partly in elevation, taken in the plane of the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the adjustable feature of the means for rapid feeding of the wire to determine the length of the strap following the forming of the coils thereon; and

Fig. 18 represents a detail broken side elevation of the strap formed by the machine.

In the functioning of the machine, the wire which is to form the straps comes to the machine in continuous length from a suitable source of supply; a predetermined amount of its leading end is bent by a device into an angular relationship with respect to the body of the wire; the said end is then bent backwardly upon the body of the wire and coiled therearound by another device, during which the wire is fed forwardly at a predetermined speed in order to regulate the spacing and angularity of the coils; the wire is then fed forwardly at a relatively high rate of speed for a period which is predetermined according to the length of strap desired; the complete strap is then severed from the wire, and the operation is repeated.

Turning now to a description oi the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the machine has a base I which supports the various parts. A main shaft 2 driven from a source of power not shown, is mounted in journais 3, I, fixed on the base I, and has secured thereto a bevel pinion which meshes with a and meshes with a gear IB which is mounted for rotation on a sleeve I9 that is mounted in a journal 2II formed in upright II.

As a result of the shaft and gearing arrangement just described, the power shaft 2 serves to actuate shaft Il and gear I8 so that the functional elements connected thereto cooperate in proper timed relationship as will be hereinafter described.

A wire guiding tube 2| (see Fig. 5) is Insulated in a pair of eccentric bearing liners 22, 23, the former of which is fitted in a bearing 24 that is mounted in a journal 2l in upright III, while liner 22 is fitted in a bearing 28 that is mounted in sleeve I2. The tube 2l is longitudinally slidable in liner 22, and the tube and liner 23 are longitudinally slidable in bearing 20; while the eccentricity of liners 22, 23 permits accurate centering of tube 2l in its mounting by suitable rotation in the proper direction of either or both said liners.

A mandrel 21 is fixed to tube 2| by having its inner end 2B (see Fig. 6) threaded into a correspondingly threaded socket in a plug 2l which is set' into tube 2i and secured therein by a screw I0. This threaded connection permits mandrels of varying diameter and length to be used; and plug 2! is also tted with a removable section 3l (see Fig. 'D which provides access to the threaded end 2l of mandrel 21 for removal thereof in case of breakage. Plug 29 has a central bore 22 in line with the bore of tube 2l to permit the passage through the tube and plug of the wire W from which the straps are formed.

A twister hook 3i is threaded into a central aperture formed in a cap 3| which is secured by a number of set screws 35 (only one being shown) to the hub of gear IB. This permits the twister hook to be rotatably adjusted with respect to said gear to insure accuracy in the formative action of the hook upon the wire. A band I6 abuts the said hub of gear I8 and is tted around bearing 26. A set screw 31 carried by band 36 pierces bearing 26 and impinges upon a collar 28 which is tted within bearing 26 and mounts a guide piece 39 that is provided with a pair of bores through which mandrel 21 and wire W pass with a sliding nt to guide their movement and by which they are held and braced, in part, during the strap coil forming operation.

Means is provided for sliding the tube 2| forwardly to feed mandrel 21 during the formation of the strap coils, and for returning tube 2| and mandrel 21 to their initial position preparatory to the fabrication of each subsequent strap. This means includes a clamp Il (see Figs. 1 and 5) which' is secured to tube 2i by set screws 4I, Il. The said clamp has a stud 42 threaded therein which stud carries a cam roller Il that is tted to ride in and be actuated by grooves Il, Il (see also Figs. 2 and l0) formed in semicircuiar cams I6, l1 respectively. Cam IB is secured by a pair of socket headed screw bolts 4B, 4l to a hub l! formed integrally with gear I3: and cam 41 is similarly secured by screw bolts il, 50. The direction of rotation of these parts is indicated by the arrow on Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that groove 44 in cam 44 serves to retract or move rearwardly tube 2l and mandrel 21, while groove 45 in cam 41 serves to advance the tube and mandrel during the operation of forming the coils oi.' the strap.

In use, these straps are placed around the package, or the like, which they are to secure: the tail end of the strap is passed through the coils formed at the other end of the strap; and a wire strapping tool is employed to crush or iatten the coils and simultaneously corrugate the portion of the wire passing through the coils, to form the knot and secure the wire around its package or the like. 'Ihis is well known to the art and is set forth in numerous patents on wire strapping tools, such, for instance, as U. S. patent to Mark H. Stratton No. 1,776,868, dated September 30, 1930. Furthermore, in manufacturing these straps, various gauges or sizes of wires are used in accordance with the demands to be made upon the straps in service, and we have discovered that, to obtain the best results, the spacing and angularity of the coils formed on the strap should vary when the gauge of the wire varies. This is particularly so because a coarser or lower gauge wire requires that the coils oi' the strap be spaced more widely and that their angularity with respect to the body of the wire be reduced to insure avoidance of breakage of the wire during the crushing or knot forming operation of the strap fastening tool, and likewise to insure a. knot or fastening that will be sufficiently resistant to the strains imposed upon the strap in service,

In order to provide for and govern the variations in the spacing and angularity of the strap coils to which reference has just been made, we provide a set of cams to be used as substitutes for cam 41 which performs the function of advancing the tube 2| and mandrel 21 during the coil forming step. These substitute cams are identical with cam 41 except that their grooves which correspond to groove 45 are varied slightly in contour so as to accelerate or decelerate the movement imparted to roller 43, and hence to tube 2i and mandrel 21, during the rotative motion of the cam. As the making of these slight changes in the contour of the cam grooves performing the function of groove 45 is well Within the skill of this art upon the mere recital of the purpose thereof, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate these slight variations in identity between cam 41 and the substitutes therefor, The number of these substitute cams may vary in accordance with the requirements of the strap manufacturer. It is quite common for a single manufacturer to produce straps from three different gauges of wire, but it is equally feasible, with this invention, for the manufacturer to increase or decrease the number of different sizes or gauges of wire used.

It will be observed that the grooves 44, 45 in the cams 46, 41 are so arranged as t0. in effect, con.. stitute one continuous circumferential groove, but it may be pointed out that, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and indicated at 5 I, the leading end oi' groove 44 in cam 46 is wider than the tail end of groove 45 in cam 41. This feature is of importance in that it provides for the free entry of cam roller 43 into groove 44 regardless of the partioular conformation of the groove 45 in cam 41 or of the corresponding groove in the cam which may be substituted for cam 41. In other words, the leading end of groove 44 in cam 46 is made to resemble a funnel to a certain extent in order surely to receive the cam roller 43 and guide it into groove 44 without any resistance, bumping or possibility oi' failure. The availability or the machine for precisely accurate formation of the coils on the strap according to their predetermined desired spacing and angularity by varying the contour of the cam groove which advances the tube 2| and mandrel 21, is rendered practical and simple by the provision of two semieircular cams 43, 41, each of which is separately secured to the hub 43 of gear i3. If a single circular cam were used, it would be necessary largely to dismantle the machine each time occasion arose for substituting a cam with a groove of slightly dierent conformation and, as this need, in practice, may arise several times during a single day, such dismantling of the machine would border on the prohibitive. However, with the cam structure constituting part of this invention, it is only necessary to unscrew bolts 50, 50 and make the necessary substitution. This is a matter oi' only a few minutes work. and the daring or funnelshaped formation of the leading end of the groove in cam 45 cooperates in this regard so as to render cam 41 and any one of its substitutes equally eillcient and insure just as satisfactory results as if various circular cams were provided. with continuous grooves therein, an-d substituted one ior another by dismantling the machine.

As hereinbefore stated, the ilrst step in the formation of the strap is the angular bending of its forward end. This is accomplished by a striker 52 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which is circular in cross section and fianged at its extremity, as shown in the drawings. This striker is secured by a bolt 53 to a bracket 54 which extends laterally from an arm 55 which is fixed by a clamp 55 on shaft I4. A spacing collar 51 serves to determine the projection of the striker from the bracket 54 in order to insure its correct contact with the wire W, which collar may be varied in length to vary the distance of the striker from the bracket; and screws 58, 58 which serve to secure clamp 56 to shaft I4 provide for rotative adjustment of the bracket on the shaft for preclsional timing of the stroke of the striker 52 with respect to the action of other functional parts of the machine.

It will be clear that rotation of shaft I4 will cause striker 52 to contact the extremity of wire W which projects beyond mandrel 21 and bend the said extremity substantially at right angles to the body of the wire. Fig. 4 shows the striker as it is about to hit the wire, and it may be added that the flange on the striker prevents the latter from slipping by the wire without performing its bending function.

In order to brace the wire for this bending step, the machine includes a device known as a steady rest, which is well shown in Fig. 4 and consists of an upwardly projecting arm 59. which is provided at its top with a cross piece 60 that has two fingers 6|, 62 projecting laterally therefrom. The said fingers, as shown in Fig. 13, are slightly staggered in the direction of the length of mandrel 21 and are spaced apart vertically a sufficient distance so as to readily, but not too loosely, receive therebetween the said mandrel and that portion of the wire W which lies alongside the mandrel. Reference to Fig. 4 will illustrate how the fingers 6I and 52 serve to brace the wire against the action oi.' striker 52 while the latter is bending the extremity of the wire.

The steady rest 59 is pivoted to swing into and out oi' operative relation with respect to the wire and mandrel 21, by providing it with a transverse bore 63. the ends of which are ntted to receive the tapered points of cap screws 84. 94 which are threaded in a bracket 65 which is properly mounted in the machine as will hereinafter be described. This form of pivot construction permits a certain amount of lateral adjustment of the steady rest 59 and also provides accurate takeup for wear so as to obviate lost motion.

The steady rest 59 has its lower end 66 projecting below the point of its pivotal mounting, which end is designed for contact with the edge of a fixed cam 81 (see Fig. 16) that is secured to the base I of the machine by cap screws 58. 9B. The holes 69, 99 formed in the cam B1 for the passage of the cap screws 68 are elongated in the direction of swinging movement of the steady rest 59 in order to permit adjustment of the cam in that direction with respect to the lower end 89 of the steady rest.

The steady rest 59 not only acts to brace the wire and mandrel 21 while the former is being bent by the striker 52, but it also continues to brace the wire and mandrel, and serves to feed the wire forwardly at the same speed as the mandrel, while the coils of the strap are being formed. As the tube 2I and mandrel 21 are fed forwardly by the means hereinabove described, the steady rest 59 is correspondingly fed in order to feed the wire and maintain its bracing contact with the Wire and mandrel at or adjacent to the point at which the wire was bent by the striker 52. This movement of the steady rest 59 is caused by securing its bracket B5 to a rod 'In (see Figs. 2, 4 and 13) which is slidably mounted in the lower part of uprights lli, II and also in a boss 1I carried on the base I of the machine. The fastening of the rod 18 to bracket 65 is accomplished by providing an enlarged threaded portion 12 on the rod 10 which mates with a threaded bore in bracket 55, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4, 13 and 15. The edge of the bracket 65 adjacent the said bore is slit, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and screws 13, 19 are threaded in the bracket across the said slit. As the result of this arrangement, it will be clear that the rod 19 can be longitudinally adjusted with respect to the bracket E5 by turning the rod in one direction or the other so that the engagement of its threads with the threads in the bracket will move the rod to the right or left as shown in Fig. 2. Flattened surfaces may be formed at the end of the rod to facilitate its rotary adjustment. Following such adjustment to the desired position, the parts may be locked therein by tightening the screws 13.

Sliding longitudinal movement is imparted to the rod 1l) by the mechanism which reciprocates the tube 2i and mandrel 21 as hereinabove described, because there is integrally formed with the clamp I0 that embraces tube 2| another clamp 1I (see Figs. l, 2 and 5) which embraces rod 18 and is fixed thereto by set screws 15, 15. Thus It will be clear that there is precise coincidence of movement between tube 2l and mandrel 21 on the one hand and rod 1I) with steady rest 59 and associated parts on the other hand, with the result that the mandrel, wire, and steady rest are fed forwardly in unison.

Bracket 65 in which steady rest 59 is pivoted has a lateral extension 16 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 13) that carries an eye 11 to which is fastened one end of a retractile coil spring 1B, the other end of which is secured to an eye 19 fixed in the upper part of the steady rest, whereby the tension of spring IB constantly urges the steady rest toward inoperative position and simultaneously urges the lower projecting end 99 of the steady rest into contact with fixed cam 91. Movement of the steady rest to operative position, shown in F18. 4. is accomplished by cam B1 which forces the lower end BB of the steady rest to the left as the parts are exhibited in Fig. 4 when the said lower end B8 is slid along the face of the cam by the sliding movement of rod 18 toward the left in Figs. 1 and 2. As the operation of forming the coils on the strap proceeds. the lower end 69 of steady rest 59 moves along the high part of the face of cam B1 and, when the coil forming operation is completed, the said end 99 comes opposite the low part of the said cam face so that the steady rest may be drawn to inoperative position by spring 18. There is, however, a tendency for the steady rest 59 to rem-ain in operative position, against the pull of spring 18, because of the engagement of the fingers 6I, 92 of the steady rest with the wire W and mandrel 21. To overcome this tendency and insure prompt return of the steady rest to inoperative position, the machine includes a kickoff 88 (see Figs. 1 and 4) which has its hub fixed to shaft Il by a set screw 8|; the circumferential adjustment of the kickoff on the shaft being such as to cause the former to be brought into contact with a lug B2 carried by steady rest 59 at the moment the operation of forming the coils on the strap is completed. The direction of rotation of the shaft Il is indicated by the arrow on Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that the kickoff 99 swings downwardly and then to the left in the said figure so as to hit the rounded underside of lug B2 in performing the function just described. Once the steady rest 59 has been thus positively thrown to inoperative position by kickoff B0, it is retained in said position by spring 19 until the sliding movement of the steady rest during the reciprocation of rod 18 causes the high part of the face of cam 61 again to swing the steady rest to operative position against the tension of spring 18.

The machine also embodies means for severing each completed strap from the continuous wire W, which means includes a pair of cooperating cutting blades B3. 84, see Figs. 1, 2, 1l and 12. Blade B3 is fixed by screw 85 to one end of a stem 86 that is shouldered and threaded in an upright B1 carried on the base I of the machine. The other end of stem 86 is provided with a kerf B9 by which it may be adjusted in upright B1, and a nut 89 is threaded on the said end of the stem for locking it in adjusted position. As the re suit of this arrangement, the iixed blade B3 can be slightly adjusted in either a rotary or axial direction. Blade 8l is xed by a screw 99 to one end of a reciprocating arm 9|, the other end of which arm is provided with a split bearing 92, 93 that is held together by screws 94, 94 and em braces an eccentric which has a hub 99 that is fastened to shaft Il by a set screw 91. The arm 9| is held in substantially horizontal position by bifurcations 98, 98 which slidably engage the top and bottom of stem 89. It will be clear that this construction will cause the arm 9| to reciprocate as shaft Il is rotated, so that blade 84 will have slidable cooperative contact with fixed blade 89 and thereby, after each strap is formed, sever the wire W which passes between the said blades. It will be observed from Fig. 11 that the blade B4 is so shaped as to have four cutting edges, any one of which may be brought into cooperative relationship with blade 89 by the simple expedient of loosening the screw 98, turning the blade 84, and tightening the said screw. A funnel-shaped 9 guide 93 for leading the wire between the said blades is carried by a bracket that is suitably fixed to upright 81.

During the strap forming operation, the wire W, and operative parts associated therewith, are fed forwardly by the action of cam 41 on roller 43 carried by clamps 40 and 14, as heretofore described, the engagement of fingers 62 of steady rest 53 being suilicient to draw the wire along as the said tube and rod are advanced. When, however, the operation of forming the coils on the strap has been completed, it is desirable to feed the wire rapidly forwardly into the position where it will be severed from the wire supply by the blades 33, 84. This rapid feed of the wire is accomplished by wheels |0I, |02 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3), the former of which is fixed to power shaft 2 by a set screw |03, and has a groove |04 formed in its periphery which serves to guide the Wire from its source of supply upon entering the machine.

Wheel |02 has a hub |05 which turns on an eccentric |06 that is xed to a cross rod |01 which is carried in stanchions |00, |09 mounted on base of the machine. An arm I |0 is ilxed to rod |01 by a set screw III, to the extremity of which arm is secured by a pin ||2 the upper end of a retractile coil spring ||3 which has its lower end fastened to a lug ||4 which is fixed by a cap screw ||5 to a cross head IIE which is mounted on the top of upright I0. The tension of spring ||3 normally urges the extremity of arm ||0 downwardly so as to bring wheel |02 into contact with wheel |0| by virtue of the eccentric mounting of the former. Wheel |02 has a peripheral groove ||1 which matches grooves |04 in wheel |0| and, when the two wheels are pressed together by spring I I3, the said grooves will grip the wire W and the latter will be rapidly fed forwardly into the machine at the rotary surface speed of wheel |0| which is fixed to and driven by power shaft 2.

As the said rapid feeding of the wire is intended to take place intermittently at the completion of each strap forming operation, the machine includes means for controlling the action of spring H3, which means comprises a finger IIB provided with a clamp type bearing that embraces rod |01 and is fixed in position thereon by a cap screw H0 which traverses the finger. (See Fig. 17.) A bifurcated arm |20 is loosely mounted on rod |01 with its bifurcations located at each side of finger H8, and said arm carries at its extremity a cam roller I2| which is fastened in position by a cap screw |22. The said roller I2| rests on the periphery of a cam which is composed of two plates |23, |24. One of said plates is provided with a stud bolt |25 which rides in an arcuate groove |26 formed in the other plate. whereby said plates may be rotatably adjusted with respect to each other and secured in the desired adjusted position. The peripheral contour of the said plates is such as to increase or decrease the duration of the effect of the cam upon roller I2|; and a thumb screw |21 threaded in finger IIB bears upon the bifurcated arm |20 so as to adjustably force the cam roller I2| into contact with the adjustable cam |23, |24. As a result of the construction just described, it will be seen that, when the roller I2| is riding on the high part of the periphery of cam |23, |24, spring ||3 is extended and wheel |02 is held in an elevated position out of contact With wheel |0|. When, however, roller I2| reaches the low part of the periphery of cam |23. |24, spring ||3 is permltted to bring wheel |02 into contact with wheel I0| and force wire W tightly into frictionai contact with the groove in wheel |0|; whereupon the rotation o! the latter will rapidly feed the wire forwardly into the machine as hereinabove described. The adjustability of cam |23, |24 permits the duration oi this rapid feed to be varied, which correspondingly controls the amount o! wire fed during this periodic operation and thereby controls the length of the straps produced by the machine.

This functioning of wheels |0l and |02 for the intermittent or periodic rapid feeding of the wire W is initiated at the instant of completion of the operation of forming the coils on a strap. and terminates at the moment the desired amount of wire has thus been rapidly fed; at the instant of which termination the cutting blades 83, 84-sever the completed strap from the continuous wire supply. and the strap is ejected or delivered at the right hand end oi the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be clear that the leading end of the wire, following the severing operation of a strap just described. is the part that is bent and twisted to form the coiled end of each succeeding strap. Consequently, the length of wire extending from the end of mandrel 21 to cutting blades 83, 84 establishes the length of wire used in the formation of the bend and coils. This length will naturally depend upon the distance separating the end of the mandrel from the cutting blades and, as it is a matter of importance to predetermine and precisely fix this distance when making straps from diierent gauges or thicknesses of wire, the machine includes means for readily and precisely sliding the support for the cutting blades 83, 84 toward and away from the mandrel 21.

To this end upright B1 which carries cutting blade 83. as heretofore described, is provided with e. foot |20 (see Figs. 8 and 9) that has a longitudinal channel |20 formed in its underside which is slidably mounted on a rail |30 which is secured to the base of the machine by screws |3|, |3I. One end of the rail is upturned, as indicated at |32, and bored to receive a thumbscrew |33 which has a shoulder |34 bearing thereagainst to prevent inward movement of the thumbscrew with respect to said upturned end |32. Thumbscrew |33 is threaded into upright 81 so that the latter may be slid inwardly and outwardly on rail |30 by turning screw |33 in one direction or the other. A pair of set screws |35, |35 are threaded through foot |28 for the purpose of securing it and upright 81 in adjusted position. Additional and finer acijustment of the cutting blades 83, 84 may be accomplished by turning the screw threaded stem 86. This will positively move blade 83 and, as blade B4 is carried on arm 0|, the bifurcated end of which is engaged with stem 8 5, the said turning of the stem will adjust blade 84 as Well as blade 83 and the two blades will maintain their precise cooperative relationship.

In the operation of the machine, the wire is fed from a suitable source of supply between wheels |0| and |02, through tube 2| and guide piece 33; through funnel-shaped guide 99 and between blades 83, 84; and out at the right hand end of the machine in Figs. 1 and 2. In this connection it will be noted that tube 2| is shaped (see Fig. 2) so that its rear extremity extends well between wheels |0| and |02 so as to .support the wire closely adjacent the support aiorded by the groove |04 in wheel |0I.

The first function of the machine when starting to produce is to sever the wire by blades 83, B4 so as to provide an end of exactly the desired length for forming the bend and coils of the strap. Thereupon the steady rest 58 moves into operative position with its fingers 6i, 62 at each side of and bracing the wire and mandrel 21. Immediately thereafter striker 52 bends the free end of the wire upwardly into an angular position, whereupon said bent-up portion is caught by the twister hook 33 which, by its rotation in combination with the forward feeding of the mandrel, wire and steady rest, forms the coils upon the strap, as clearly represented in Figs. 13 and 18. Immediately upon the completion of the coiling step, the wheels li and |02 are brought into cooperative engagement with the wire and feed it rapidly forward, at the end of which movement the completed strap is severed by the cutting blades 83, 8l and delivered from the machine. As the guide 88 is semi-circular in cross section and its bracket Iilil is slit at the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it does not interfere with the initial upward bending of the wire by striker 52. Furthermore, the size of the guide, and the distance between blades 83, 84 when separated, permit the free passage therethrough of the coiled end of each completed strap.

The operation takes place very rapidly and straps which vary in the spacing and angularity of their coils. as well as in their length, can be produced as desired by simple adjustments and ready substitution of certain parts in the machine. This last is a matter of much importance in view of the fact that there is a commercial demand for straps composed of wire of varying thicknesses or gauges, and that there is a. marked relationship of efficiency with respect to the size of the wire and the spacing and angularity of the coils formed in making the strap. Changes in contour of cam Il by means of the substitutions hereinbefore described, will vary the speed at which the wire is fed forward with relation to the rotary speed of the twister hook 33, and correspondingly vary the spacing and angularity of the wire coils: while substitution of mandrels of greater or less diameter will vary the size and angularity of the coils without affecting their spacing.

Notable features of improvement in this machine include the ability to vary the spacing and angularity of the strap coils; the provision for quickly and easily changing the cam member which feeds the mandrel, steady rest and wire during the coil forming operation; the formation of the groove in the fixed cam member to insure proper reception of the cam roller regardless of changes in the changeable cam member; the precise adjustabilty of the cutting blades, involving both coarse and fine adjustment, whereby the length of wire used in forming the coils can be predetermined with exactness; the improved mounting and ready and accurate adjustability of the steady rest; the similar adjustability of the twister hook; the provision of a kickoff for the steady rest; the construction and adjust ability of the striker for bending the wire; the construction and adjustable mounting of the cutting blade arm; the supporting and guiding construction for the wire and mandrel; the adjustability of the means for rapid feeding of the wire whereby the length of the straps smay be varied; and the general arrangement, construction, inter-relationship-and nicety in coaction of the various parts through which a high degree of perfection in timing and precision of the functions is attained and straps of substantially perfect uniformity may be produced in quantity'and at a high rate of speed.

In the commercial exploitation of these straps it is important to be able to provide the customer with straps which in number to be applied to each package and strength of individual straps are fully adequate for the shipment at hand without involving the waste of substantially exceeding the requirements. In this connection the most important factor is probably the size and shape of the coiled portion that is used in the formation of and constitutes part of the knot or seal when the strap is applied to its package. The size of this coiled portion is of maior consequence in respect to attainment of the desired eil'ect when the knot is formed by the crushing or flattening of the coiled portion in the strapping tool; and the shape of the coiled portion, particularly in regard to the angularity and spacing of the coils, is an item of predominant concern in relation to the size or gauge of wire from which the straps are formed. For instance, too close relative spacing and/or too great angularity of the coils with respect to the body of the strap tend to fracturing of a comparatively coarse or low gauge wire by the strapping tool; while wider spacing and/or lesser angularity of the coils tend to lack of strength in the knot or seal formed by the strapping tool if the wire be finer or of higher gauge. The strap manufacturer, upon being provided by the customer with the weight, dimensions and other characteristics of the package to be strapped and its shipping destination, can predetermine for the customer the number of straps, the gauge of wire from which they should be formed, and the details of the coiled portion best suited to proper strapping of the package without undue waste. However, this ability to predetermine the requirements is of small value unless the machine used in fabrieating the straps can be adjusted or varied in its functional effects so as to produce with equal facility and speed straps best suited in the features above enumerated to the customer's requirements. The invention herein set forth provides a, machine having these highly desirable capabilities without complication in structure, increase in cost of operation, or reduction in output per unit of time.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction, arrangement and material of the several parts of this machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; and hence we do not intend to be limited to details herein shown or described except as they may be included in the claims.

What we claim is:

l. In a machine of the character described, a source of Wire supply, means for feeding wire therefrom, means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the remainder thereof, rotary means for coiling the end of the Wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, and means for varying the relative forward speed of the feeding means and rotary speed of the coiling means in order to vary the spacing of the coils with respect to each other and their angularity with respect to the wire around which they are coiled.

2. In a machine of the character described, a source of wire supply, means for feeding wire therefrom, means for bending the end of the wire at an angle to the remainder thereof, rotary means for coilng the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, and means for varying the forward speed of the feeding means in order to vary the spacing of the coils with respect to each other and their angularity with respect to the wire around which they are coiled, said last named means including cam elements of varying formation which are interchangeable for each other without removal or dislocation of any other part o1' the machine.

3. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, rotary means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly. and means for varying the speed of the feeding means in order to vary the spacing of the coils and their angularity with respect to the wire around which they are coiled, said last named means including a. split cam having a fixed element and complementary elements of varying formation any one of which can be operatively associated with and removed from operative association with said fixed element at will without requiring the removal or dislocation of any other part of thc machine.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a. wire, rotary means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, and means for varying the speed of the feeding means in order to vary the spacing of the coils and their angularity with respect to the wire around which they are coiled, said last named means including a split cam having a fixed element and com- ,elementary elements of varying formation any one of which can be operatively associated with and removed from operative association with said fixed element at will without requiring the removal or dislocation oi any other part of the machine, said elements having cam grooves formed therein which constitute a continuous groove when two elements are in operative association, one end of the groove in the fixed element being wider than the cooperative ends of the grooves in the other elements.

5. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for coiling the end of the Wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, means for steadying the wire during the feeding and coiling operations, said steadying means including a member movable to operative and inoperative positions, and positively acting means for moving the member to both positions.

6. In a machine oi' the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, means for steadying the wire during the feeding and ceiling operations, said steadying means including a member movable to operative and inoperative positions, positively acting means for moving the member to both positions, and resiliently acting means for urging the member to inoperative position.

7. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for coiling the end of thc wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, a member for steadying the wire during the feeding and coiling operations, and means for moving the member to maintain its steadying contact with the wire. said moving means including a slidable support for the said member which has a rotatable engage- 14 ment therewith whereby rotation of the support will adjust the said member thereon in the line of movement of the support.

8. In a machine of the ,character described, means for feeding a wire, means for ceiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly. a member for steadying the wire during the feeding and coiiing operations, means for moving the member to maintain its steadying contact with the wire, said moving means including a slldable support for the said member which has a rotatable engagement therewith whereby rotation of the support will adjust the said member thereon in the line of movement of the support, and means for locking the said member in adjusted positions on the said support.

9. In a machine of the character described. means for ceiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, a member for steadying the wire during said coiling operation, and a slldable support for said member to move it as the coll forming operation proceeds, said support having a screw threaded engagement with said member whereby the latter may be adjusted on the former in the direction of its movement by rotation on the former, and the threaded portion of the support being enlarged with respect to the remainder thereof, the part of said member which engages the threaded portion of the support being expansible and contractible to permit rotating the support in the member and locking the same in adjusting positions.

l0. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for coiiing the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, a member for steadying the wire during the feeding and ceiling operations, and means for moving the member to maintain its steadying Contact with the wire, said moving means including a slldable support for the said member upon which the member is pivotally mounted for movement to operative and inoperative positions, said pivotal mounting including means for adjusting said member in both directions at right angles to the plane of its pivotal movement.

11. In a machine of the character described. means for feeding a wire, means for ceiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, a member for steadying the wire during the feeding and coiling operations, means for moving the member to maintain its steadying contact with the wire, said moving means including a slldable support `for the said member which has a rotatable engagement therewith whereby rotation of the support will adjust the said member thereon in the line of movement of the support, and a pivotal mounting for said member on said support for movement of the member to operative and inoperative positions, said pivotal mounting including means for adjusting said member in both directions at right angles to the plane of its pivotal movement..

12. In a machine of the character described. means for coiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire. and means for steadying the wire during said coiling operation, said last named means including a member movable to operative and inoperative positions, a bracket in which said member is pivotally mounted for such movement, a support for said bracket, means for sliding said support in a direction at right angles to the said movement of said member, a device l arranged for contact by said member when the bracket is moved by the support for brinllnl! the membeato operative position, and means for adjusting the pivotal mounting of said member in the same direction as the movement of said support.

13. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, and means for steadying the wire during said coiling operation, said last named means including a member movable to operative and inoperative positions, a bracket in which said member is pivotaiiy mounted for such movement. a support for said bracket, means for sliding said support in a direction at right angles to the said movement of said member. a device arranged for contact by said member when the bracket is moved by the support for bringing the member to operative position, means for adjusting the pivotal mounting of said member in the same direction as the movement of said support. and means for adjusting the bracket on the support in the same direction.

14. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling an end oi' a wire backwardly around the wire, and means for steadying the wire during said collins operation, said last named means including a member movable to operative and inoperative positions, a bracket in which said member is pivotally mounted for such movement, a support for said bracket, means for sliding said support in a direction at right angles to the said movement of said member, a device arranged for contact by said member when the bracket is moved by the support for bringing the member to operative position, said device being adjustable in a direction at right angles to the movement oi said support, means for adjusting the pivotal mounting of said member in the same direction as the movement of said support, and means for adjusting the bracket on the support in the same direction.

i5. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, and means for steadying the wire during said coiling operation, said last named means including a member having the following elements: fingers fitted to receive the wire therebetween, an extremity for engaging a device to bring the member to operative position, a lug for engagement by another device to bring said member to inoperative position, a connection for a device for yieldlngly urging the member to inoperative position, and a formation intermediate said ilngers and said extremity for the pivotal mounting of said member.

16. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, means for severing the wire following the completion of the coiling operation to permit delivery of the completed strap from the machine and to provide a wire end for a succeeding coiling operation. a mounting for the severing means, and means for adjusting said mounting with respect to the coiling means in order to predetermine the length of wire to be used in said succeeding coiling operation and thereby establish the length of the coil on the straps produced by the machine, said adjusting means including independently operable devices for both coarse and fine adjustments.

17. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for ceiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, vmeans for severing the wire following the completion of the coiling operation to permit delivery of the completed strap from the machine and to provide a wire end for a succeeding coiling operation, a mounting for the severing means, and means for adjusting said mounting with respect to the coiling means in order to predetermine the length of wire to be used in said succeeding colling operation and thereby establish the length of the coil on the straps produced by the machine, said adjusting means including devices for both coarse and fine adjustments, the coarse adjustment being obtained by moving the mounting for the severing means and the ne adjustment being obtained by moving the severing means itself.

i8. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, means for ceiling the end of the wire backwardly around the Wire as the latter is fed forwardly, means for severing the wire following the completion of the coiling operation to permit delivery of the completed strap from the machine and to provide a wire end for a succeeding coiiing operation, a mounting for the severing means, and means for adjusting said mounting with respect to the coiling means in order to predetermine the Ilength of wire to be used in said succeeding ceiling operation and thereby establish the length of the coil on the straps produced by the machine, said adjusting means including devices for both coarse and fine adjustments, the device for fine adjustment embodying a fixed blade carried on a threaded stem, a threaded support for said stem, a movable blade. and a mounting for the movable blade engaging said threaded stem, whereby rotation of said stem in its support will adjust the fixed blade carried thereby and correspondingly adjust the movable blade.

19. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, rotary means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, and means for bending the end of the wire preliminary to the ceiling operation, the rotary coiling means being mounted for circumferential adjustment with respect to the wire in order to vary and control the initiation of the coil formation.

20. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a wire, rotary means for coiling the end of the wire backwardly around the wire as the latter is fed forwardly, and means for bending the end of the wire preliminary to the ceiling operation, the rotary coiling means being mounted for circumferential adjustment with respect to the wire in order to vary and control the initiation of the coil formation, said bending means being provided with an adjustable element to insure precision of contact with the wire regardless of variations in wire size.

2l. In a machine of the character described, means for ceiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, means for feeding the wire during said coiling operation, and means for feeding the wire at greater speed following the coiling operation. said last named means including wire contacting mechanism, mechanism for controlling the duration of contact of the wire contacting mechanism with the wire, and a device for operatively connecting the wire contacting mechanism and the controlling mechanism, said device including an oscillatable rod, a bifurcated arm mounted for movement in a rotary direction on said rod, a finger fixed against movement in a rotary direction on said rod between the bifurcations of said arm, and an element for imparting adjustable pressure by said finger upon said arm.

22. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, means for feeding the wire during said coiling operation, and means for feeding the wire at greater speed following the coiling operation, said last named means including a driven wheel for moving the wire, a second wheel for forcing the wire into contact with the first 1o named wheel, a rotary adjustable cam for controlling the duration of operative activity of said second wheel, and a device for operatively oonnecting said second wheel and said cam, said device including an oscillatable rod upon which said second wheel is eccentrically mounted, a bifurcated arm mounted for movement in a rotary direction on said rod, a cam roller carried by said arm for contact with said cam, a finger fixed against movement in a rotary direction on said rod between the bifurcations of said arm, and an element for imparting adjustable pressure by said nger upon said arm to maintain contact between said cam and said roller.

JOHN SHOLTIS. JR.

HAROLD K. EMBREE.

18 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 205,527 Cohen July 2. 1878 337,159 Houghton Mar. 2, 1886 418,512 Griswold et al. Dec. 31, 1889 490,777 Trethewey Jan. 31, 1893 598,170 Willix Feb. 1, 1898 1,065,336 Bigelow June 24, 1913 1,258,271 Tillman Mar. 5, 1918 1,427,962 Lurcott Sept. 5, 1922 1,562,997 Van Orman Nov. 24, 1925 1,769,330 Bull July 1, 1930 1,942,069 Setoguchi et al. Jan. 2, 1934 2,052,443 Blaner Aug, 25, 1936 2,120,146 Halvorsen et el. June 7, i938 2.142.509 Hall Jan. 3, 1939 2,275,131 Conlin Mar. 3, 1942 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,439,272.

April 6, 194s.

JOHN SHOLTIS, JR., ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 14, line 26, claim 9, for the words rotation on read rotation of; with this correction therein that the the Patent Office.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read same may conform to the record of the case in Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant 00m/mission of Patents.

tions of said arm, and an element for imparting adjustable pressure by said finger upon said arm.

22. In a machine of the character described, means for coiling an end of a wire backwardly around the wire, means for feeding the wire during said coiling operation, and means for feeding the wire at greater speed following the coiling operation, said last named means including a driven wheel for moving the wire, a second wheel for forcing the wire into contact with the first 1o named wheel, a rotary adjustable cam for controlling the duration of operative activity of said second wheel, and a device for operatively oonnecting said second wheel and said cam, said device including an oscillatable rod upon which said second wheel is eccentrically mounted, a bifurcated arm mounted for movement in a rotary direction on said rod, a cam roller carried by said arm for contact with said cam, a finger fixed against movement in a rotary direction on said rod between the bifurcations of said arm, and an element for imparting adjustable pressure by said nger upon said arm to maintain contact between said cam and said roller.

JOHN SHOLTIS. JR.

HAROLD K. EMBREE.

18 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 205,527 Cohen July 2. 1878 337,159 Houghton Mar. 2, 1886 418,512 Griswold et al. Dec. 31, 1889 490,777 Trethewey Jan. 31, 1893 598,170 Willix Feb. 1, 1898 1,065,336 Bigelow June 24, 1913 1,258,271 Tillman Mar. 5, 1918 1,427,962 Lurcott Sept. 5, 1922 1,562,997 Van Orman Nov. 24, 1925 1,769,330 Bull July 1, 1930 1,942,069 Setoguchi et al. Jan. 2, 1934 2,052,443 Blaner Aug, 25, 1936 2,120,146 Halvorsen et el. June 7, i938 2.142.509 Hall Jan. 3, 1939 2,275,131 Conlin Mar. 3, 1942 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,439,272.

April 6, 194s.

JOHN SHOLTIS, JR., ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 14, line 26, claim 9, for the words rotation on read rotation of; with this correction therein that the the Patent Office.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read same may conform to the record of the case in Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant 00m/mission of Patents. 

